Manchester United: Jose Mourinho explains Marouane Fellaini substitution against Everton

The Belgium international conceded a 89th-minute penalty which was converted by Leighton Baines as Mourinho's side drew again

Mark Critchley
Monday 05 December 2016 09:26 GMT
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Mourinho explained the reasoning behind Fellaini's introduction
Mourinho explained the reasoning behind Fellaini's introduction (Getty)

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Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho defended his decision to bring on Marouane Fellaini in the final stages of Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Everton.

Mourinho’s side were consigned to a third consecutive league draw after Leighton Baines converted an 89th-minute penalty conceded by Fellaini.

The Belgium international, returning to his former club and old stomping ground, tripped Idrissa Gueye just four minutes after entering the fray.

Asked why Fellaini had been summoned from the bench, Mourinho said: "Everton is not a passing team any more like they were in the past.

“Everton is a team that plays direct: goalkeeper direct, Ashley Williams direct, Funes Mori direct. Everything direct.

“When you have on the bench a player with two metres (in height) you play the player in front of the defensive line to help the team to win the match.”

Mourinho went on to describe the decision as part of a “pragmatic” gameplan to hold onto the 1-0 lead, which had been established through Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s first-half striker.

He added: "When my teams are playing pragmatic football and winning matches and winning titles you say that is not nice and right," he said.


“Then my team play very well - and is a huge change to the last two or three years (at United) - now you say what matters is to get the result no matter what.

“In this moment we have teams getting results that defend with 11, kick ball and attack the space on the counter-attack...it is phenomenal, it's beautiful.”

Additional reporting by PA

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